Enzyme-linked Fluorescent Assay Research Articles

Establishment of a novel homogeneous nanoparticle-based assay for sensitive procalcitonin detection of ultra low-volume serum samples.

PurposeSepsis is a potentially fatal systemic body infection with a significant mortality rate worldwide. Although C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and procalcitonin (PCT) might be biomarkers for sepsis diagnosis, PCT is more sensitive and specific than CRP or IL-6. We aimed to establish an efficient immunoassay that precisely detects PCT in human serum for the early diagnosis of sepsis.Materials and methodsWe developed a novel amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay (AlphaLISA) for the quantitative detection of PCT in serum. In this assay, a pair of antibodies was used to capture PCT in serum and to form sandwich complexes after incubating for 15 minutes at 37°C.ResultsPCT concentrations were determined within a linear range of 0.016–100 ng/mL. The limit of detection was 18.6 pg/mL. The results demonstrate that the reproducibility, recovery, and specificity of this assay for PCT meet the requirements of clinical detection. The coefficient of determination (R2) between this method and commercially available enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) kits was estimated to be 0.93045 in clinical serum testing.ConclusionThe novel assay for PCT detection was robust with high sensitivity and a broad dynamic range. Compared with conventional heterogeneous detection methods such as ELISA, this assay measured the concentration of the homogeneous form of PCT and provided results that are more accurate within a shorter detection time. We expect that this novel method will be useful for the early screening and prognosis evaluation of patients with sepsis.

Evaluation and validation of an alternative method to detect Campylobacter spp. in dairy products.

Foods implicated in human campylobacteriosis include raw or undercooked poultry and raw dairy products. Because Campylobacter spp. are the most frequently reported cause of bacterial infection in the European Union and because conventional methods are cumbersome, rapid methods for Campylobacter detection and quantification in food are needed. With this study we sought to validate, according to the standard procedure (UNI EN ISO 16140:2003), an alternative to the reference analytical method (UNI EN ISO 10272-1:2006) for official controls of Campylobacter spp. in raw milk and dairy products. Milk samples collected from 16 milk vending machines located throughout the Genoa metropolitan area were analyzed using two different methods, an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) and a real-time PCR assay, and evaluated in parallel against the reference method. In addition, a total of 460 samples of raw milk collected from milk vending machines were analyzed by ELFA. Results obtained with ELFA showed it was compliant with UNI EN ISO 10272-1:2006 criteria and that the immunoassay had 100% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. Regarding samples of milk vending machines, 5.0% (23/460) tested positive at ELFA screening and were subsequently confirmed as C. jejuni. Validation according to UNI EN ISO 16140:2003 of the ELFA method suggests it may be a useful alternative to conventional methods for detecting Campylobacter spp. in official controls.

Comparison of serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D3 in brucellosis patients with healthy persons in Hamadan, west of Iran.

The human immune system including phagocytosis, has anessential role in pathogenesis, relapse and improvement of infectious diseases. The immune cells have vitamin D receptor, and vitamin D deficiency causes impaired immune system, specifically macrophages. The aim of study was to compare serum levelof 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH- VitD3) among the patients with acute brucellosis and relapsed brucellosis with healthy individuals. In this case-control study, 92 patients with acute brucellosis, 92 cases with relapsed brucellosis and 107 healthy persons who referred to Sina hospital and Imam Khomeini clinic were enrolled, and all groups were matched based on age, gender and habitat. The study was done from March 2016 to June 2017. The serum levels of 25-OH- VitD3 were measured based on the Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) technology, Vidassystem (France, Biomerieux Kit). The data were analyzed by using SPSS version 16 software. The mean serum levels of 25-OH- VitD3 in acute brucellosis, relapsed brucellosis and healthy persons were 22.55 ± 15.72, 26.82 ± 20.78, 24.44 ± 17.29, respectively .In addition, the mean serum levels of 25-OH- VitD3 by male gender in acute brucellosis, relapsed brucellosis and healthy control groups were 20.35 ± 13.10, 24.88 ± 20.89 and 22.52 ± 13.79, respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference among three groups (P = 0.275). According to the results, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was high in patients with acute or relapsed brucellosis and also healthy persons; however, there was no meaningful difference among three groups and between the patients and healthy persons.

The effect of refined functional carbohydrates from enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast on the transmission of environmental Salmonella Senftenberg among broilers and proliferation in broiler housing

Hatching eggs collected from resident broiler breeders at 48 wk of age were used to produce male and female chicks that were assigned sex separately to 96 new litter pens and fed either a 0 or 50g/MT RFC (refined functional carbohydrate feed additive derived from yeast) diet. There were 24 replicate pens of 12 broilers each per diet per sex. Feed intake and BW were determined at 14, 28, and 42 d of age. Litter was sampled by pen using sterile socks at 35 d and tested for Salmonella spp. using an enzyme linked fluorescence assay method. Salmonella spp. was isolated from 7 of 48 control-fed broiler pens but no RFC-fed pens (P ≤ 0.05). Thereafter, 48 males and 48 females were selected based on litter Salmonella presence and RFC treatment. The cecas of these broilers were aseptically excised after feed withdrawal and lairage and tested for presence of Salmonella spp. There were 18 of the 48 control-fed broilers confirmed positive from litter-positive pens but none from litter-negative pens fed RFC. The serovar of litter and cecal Salmonella isolates was Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Senftenberg (S. Senftenberg). Female broilers that were fed RFC exhibited greater BW at 28 d (P ≤ 0.05) and 42 d (P ≤ 0.05) while RFC-fed males exhibited improved feed efficiency during the 15-28 d period (P = 0.06). These data demonstrated that dietary RFC reduced the prevalence of Salmonella in the litter and ceca of broilers when fed continuously while not being detrimental to broiler live performance.

PENILAIAN UJI TROPONIN I DENGAN POINT OF CARE TESTING

Troponin I is a cardiac biomarker recomended by The Third Global Myocardial Infarction Task Force World Health Organisation(WHO). Troponin plays a central role as a relevant biomarker that require reliable samples, methods, device and efficiency of time.Selecting the device, methods and sample used in the assay may affect the results and turn arround time. The aim of this study is toknow troponin I result using Point of care Testing device with a flourescence immunoassay methods using whole blood and laboratorybasedanalysis device with Enzyme-Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) methods using serum by evaluation. Cross sectional study was heldon 50 subjects in Wahidin Sudirohusodo hospital during the period between July-August 2015, those who suspected suffering acutecoronary syndome (ACS) and underwent troponin I test ordered by the physician and also had whole blood sample. The subjects arearound 51.96±12.80 year old and most of them are men (62%). The mean consentration of troponin I with laboratoric-based analysis is0.50±1.69 μg/L and with POCT is 0.51±1.77. The Pearson correlation test shows the correlation (r) is 0.99 with the p value is <0.001.Bland and Altman methods show the mean difference between two assays is 0.014μg/L (95% confidence interval, -0.015; 0.043) withthe limit of agreement -0.19 to 0.22. Based on this study, it can be concluded that troponin I assay using POCT device can be used tosupport ACS diagnosis precisely and rapidly. It is suggested to perform futher study with concern on the patient's clinical condition aswell as the diagnosis, so it can evaluate the device performance to measure troponin I levels consistently with the clinical condition.

PROKALSITONIN SEBAGAI PENANDA PEMBEDA INFEKSI BAKTERI DAN NON BAKTERI

Early diagnosis of an infection and prompt administration of an antibiotic can dramatically reduce morbidity and mortality.Procalcitonin (PCT), a precursor of calcitonin, has been proposed as a marker of bacterial infection. The aim of this study is to assess theefficiency of procalcitonin in children for the diagnosis of bacterial vs. non bacterial infection. This was a prospective, cross-sectional study.The subjects were enrolled consecutively, consisting of feverish children (temperature ³38.5° C) admitted to the Pediatric EmergencyDepartment with ages up to 12 years old. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their final diagnosis, bacterial and nonbacterial infection. Serum PCT concentration was measured by enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) method. Sensitivity, specificity,positive predictive and negative predictive values, and receiver operating curve (ROC) of PCT were calculated. Out of 54 patients,24 (44.4%) had a final diagnosis of bacterial infection. PCT showed a wide concentration range in the bacterial infection group (median:1.09 ng/mL, lower (L)=0.05 ng/mL, upper (U)=128.7 ng/mL) compared with non bacterial infection group (0.21 ng/mL; L=0.05ng/mL; U=12.15 ng/mL). There was a significant difference in PCT between the 2 groups (p=0.020). ROC analysis demonstrated anarea under curve (AUC) of 0.686 (95% CI, 0.534 to 0.838). Using a cut-off point of 0.5 ng/mL, the sensitivity, and specificity, positivepredictive and negative predictive values of PCT were 66.7%, 76.7%, 69.6%, 74.2%, respectively. In this study, PCT may be useful fordifferentiation of bacterial vs. non bacterial infection in children.

KINETIKA FAKTOR VON WILLEBRAND DEMAM BERDARAH DENGUE ORANG DEWASA

Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) is still a problem in Indonesia. It is a syndrome that in most severe form may threaten the patient'slife, primarily through increased vascular permeability due to endothelial dysfunction leading to shock. Von Willebrand factor (vWf) is ablood glycoprotein involved in haemostasis and present in the blood plasma. The vWf is reported as one of dysfunction endothelial marker.However, there is limited information about the kinetics and contribution of vWf in the pathogenesis of DHF in adult patients. In thisstudy, a serial level of vWf was measured as kinetic of plasma vWf. It is expected that, the evidence based medicine will give contributionin the management of DHF patients. Also, in the future a study will be conducted especially about the prediction of shock to know thekinetic of plasma von Willebrand factor in adult dengue haemorrhagic fever patients. A cross-sectional repeated–measurement study wasconducted from October 2007 up to January 2008 in the Department of Clinical Pathology at the Sardjito General Hospital Yogyakarta.Subjects who met the eligible criteria were selected i.e. adult patients hospitalized in the Department of Internal Medicine diagnosed asDHF based on WHO criteria and antibody anti-dengue detection. Serial measurement of plasma vWf was determined on days five (5),seven (7) and 15 using enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) principle. The resulting data was shown graphically and the differencein levels of vWf among the three groups of time was analyzed by Friedman's test. The study results showed an increase of vWf on dayfive /5 (218.48 %), followed by 187.08 % on day seven (7). Interestingly, there was a sharp increase of vWf on day 15 (233.80 %). Inaddition, there were statistically significant different levels of vWf among those three groups (p = 0.00) in adult dengue haemorrhagicfever patients with the von Willebrand kinetic factor showing a fluctuation pattern. There is an increased level of vWf on the fifth (5)day but a decrease on the seventh (7) day. However, there is a sharp increase in the convalescence phase.

Optical measurement of glutamate in slice preparations of the mouse retina

Signaling by glutamatergic synapses plays an important role in visual processing in the retina. In this study, we used an enzyme-linked fluorescence assay system to monitor the dynamics of extracellular glutamate in a slice preparation from the mouse retina. High K stimulation induced an elevation of fluorescence in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) of the retina when glutamate transporters were inhibited by dl-threo-β-benzyloxyaspartic acid (TBOA). The high K-induced fluorescence signals in the IPL were inhibited by the calcium channel blocker Cd2+. Blockade of GABAergic and glycinergic circuits by picrotoxin and strychnine also elevated the fluorescence signals in the IPL. Thus, the enzyme-linked fluorescence assay system might be useful for monitoring the bulk concentration of extracellular glutamate released by synapses in the inner retina.

Level of placental trophoblastic KISS1 protein is associated with high risk of recurrent spontaneous abortion in Iraqi women

Introduction: Recurrent pregnancy loss is the syndrome that causes repeated miscarriage and/or stillbirth impairing the ability to have a live birth. More from research interest has been focused on the association studies between different factors and recurrent spontaneous abortion. The aim of this study was examine the role of alteration in levels of KISS1protein and in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Methods: Level of KISS1 protein was detected by immunohistochemical examinations in samples from placenta and measurement the levels of Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) , Luteinizing hormone (LH) by using Enzyme linked Fluorescent Assay (ElFA) technique of groups I (women pregnant were normal delivered pregnancy at delivery in the third trimester (n=15); II refer to normal pregnant in first trimester (n = 15) (I ;II control group)., III represented aborted women for the first time during the first trimester (n = 15.( and group (IV): (30) represented repeated aborted women during the first trimester Results: Finding from this study revealed that the level of the protein was high in abortion groups and increased levels of LH and FSH as well. Conclusion: Kisspeptine is implicated in RSA through inhibition of normal placentation and indirectly through stimulation of LH and FSH secretion.

Advances in serological, imaging techniques and molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Toxoplasmosis is worldwide distributed zoonotic infection disease with medical importance in immunocompromised patients, pregnant women and congenitally infected newborns. Having basic information on the traditional and new developed methods is essential for general physicians and infectious disease specialists for choosing a suitable diagnostic approach for rapid and accurate diagnosis of the disease and, consequently, timely and effective treatment. We conducted English literature searches in PubMed from 1989 to 2016 using relevant keywords and summarized the recent advances in diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was most used method in past century. Recently advanced ELISA-based methods including chemiluminescence assays (CLIA), enzyme-linked fluorescence assay (ELFA), immunochromatographic test (ICT), serum IgG avidity test and immunosorbent agglutination assays (ISAGA) have shown high sensitivity and specificity. Recent studies using recombinant or chimeric antigens and multiepitope peptides method demonstrated very promising results to development of new strategies capable of discriminating recently acquired infections from chronic infection. Real-time PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) are two recently developed PCR-based methods with high sensitivity and specificity and could be useful to early diagnosis of infection. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear imaging and ultrasonography could be useful, although their results might be not specific alone. This review provides a summary of recent developed methods and also attempts to improve their sensitivity for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Serology, molecular and imaging technologies each has their own advantages and limitations which can certainly achieve definitive diagnosis of toxoplasmosis by combining these diagnostic techniques.

Detecção de Campylobacter spp. em carcaças de frango de corte resfriadas e congeladas pelos métodos imunoenzimático, PCR e PCR em tempo real

ABSTRACT: In order to detect and identify Campylobacter spp. in broiler chicken carcasses, and to compare detection methods, 43 chilled and 43 frozen carcasses were collected and analyzed. Three methodologies were evaluated: an automated Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) VIDAS®30, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR. Only four chilled carcasses (4.6%) were considered positive for Campylobacter spp. by VIDAS®30 and no sample was positive when the conventional PCR technique was used. However, real-time PCR showed a higher incidence of contamination by Campylobacter spp. in broiler carcasses, with 45 (52.3%) positive samples. C. jejuni was the species most frequently reported in the samples (88.8%). No differences in the frequencies of Campylobacter spp. were observed between the chilled and frozen broiler carcasses. In conclusion, real-time PCR was the most sensitive method for the detection of Campylobacter spp. in chilled or frozen broiler carcasses, which were mainly contaminated by C. jejuni.

Level of serum prolactin in patients of hypothyroidism in Western Uttar Pradesh

Background: Hypothyroidism refers to a state that results in a deficiency of thyroid hormones, including hypothalamic or pituitary disease and generalized tissue resistant to thyroid hormone. Thyroid-releasing hormone can cause a rise in serum prolactin levels in patients of primary hypothyroidism. Objective: The objective of the study was to find the levels of serum prolactin in patients who are having hypothyroidism and to observe the relationship of prolactin with thyroid-stimulating hormone. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 patients coming to endocrinology clinic for thyroid-related problems were selected for the study and analyzed for their serum T3, T4, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and prolactin levels by enzyme-linked fluorescent assay technique using Vidas autoanalyzer from Biomeriuex, France. Results: Prolactin level is high in the subclinical hypothyroid patients and hypothyroid patients as compared to euthyroid patients. Conclusion: In our study, it was seen that the levels of prolactin rise in relation to rising TSH level in hypothyroid patients.

89 Comparative Quantification of Plasma Progesterone Through Radioimmumoassay and Enzyme-Linked Fluorescent Assay Techniques in Cattle

Progesterone (P4) is an important component of oestrous cyclicity and is critical to fertility. A concentration >1 ng mL−1 reflects the function of the corpus luteum (CL) and is considered indicative of a cyclic cow. Recent publications have shown that P4 at the onset of synchronization programs is critical to pregnancy outcomes in primiparous cows (Stevenson et al. 2015 J. Anim. Sci. 93, 2111-2123) and cows with P4 <5 ng mL−1 on Day 14 could predict pregnancy loss (Kenyon et al. 2013 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 136, 223-230). Currently, the gold standard technique to quantify P4 is radioimmunoassay (RIA). However, new techniques are emerging. The objective of this study was to evaluate a new commercial in vitro diagnostic assay to quantify P4 based on enzyme immunoassay by competition with detection of final fluorescence (enzyme-linked fluorescence assay, ELFA). A total of 30 cows were synchronized on Day 0 with an intravaginal device (IVD) containing 500 mg of P4 (Cronipres, Biogénesis Bagó, Argentina). On Day 7 and Day 8 all cows received 150 mg of prostaglandin F2α (Enzaprost, Biogénesis Bagó). All IVD were removed on Day 8. A total of 95 blood samples were taken at Days 0, 9, 9.5, and 10 using BD Vacutainer (Becton-Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) with sodium heparin by jugular venipuncture and centrifuged at 3000 × g for 30 min for plasma separation, which was frozen at –20°C until analysis. Samples were measured in duplicate by IM1188-Progesterone-RIA (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA) and VIDAS-PRG-ELFA (Biomerieux, Marcy l’Étoile, France). Concentrations of P4 obtained by RIA were classified in 2 groups: (A) P4 <1 ng mL−1, and (B) P4 ≥1 ng mL−1 and matched with P4 concentrations obtained by ELFA. Kappa (κ) test was used to determine agreement between both techniques, intra-assay coefficients of variation was determined for RIA and ELFA; and sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were determined for ELFA. There was very good agreement between the RIA and ELFA techniques, κ = 0.95, to determine P4 concentrations for group A (62 and 62 samples, respectively) and group B (33 and 33 samples, respectively). The intra-assay coefficients of variation were 5% (RIA) and 2.9% (ELFA). Values for SE = 0.97, SP = 0.98, PPV = 0.97, and NPV = 0.98 were obtained for ELFA. We were able to quantify P4 in bovine plasma in all samples using the ELFA technique with similar reliability to the RIA technique. Only 2 samples (2.1%) differed in their concentrations and clinical interpretation. There was a slight discrepancy between the results found for both techniques with an excellent SE and SP in ELFA compared with RIA. Based on the analytical results, we believe that this in vitro diagnostic assay developed for use with an autoanalyzer could be useful for routine bovine reproduction programs. Further studies should be carried out to strengthen these conclusions.

Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis D virus infection in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection attending the three main tertiary hospitals in Libya

Background and study aimsGlobally, More than 350 million individuals are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), and >20 million of them are co-infected with hepatitis D virus (HDV). The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of HDV infection in patients with chronic hepatitis B in three main tertiary hospitals in Tripoli and Benghazi, Libya. Patients and methodsThis cross sectional and descriptive study was conducted on 162 patients with chronic hepatitis B positive for more than six months) who were followed up at hepatitis clinics of the three main tertiary hospitals in Tripoli city (88 patients from Tripoli Medical Centre and Tripoli Central Hospital) and Benghazi city (74 patients from Aljomhoria Hospital) during the period from January 2010 to June 2012. HBV and HDV markers were detected by enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and HBV-DNA was quantified by real-time PCR techniques. ResultsThe mean age of patients was 36,92 ± 15,35. One hundred and three (63.6%) of them were males and 59 (36,4%) were females. Four patients (2,5%) were tested positive for anti-HD antibodies, all of them have had clinical and/or histological diagnosis of cirrhosis. In multivariable regression analysis, age (p = .04), elevation of serum ALT (p = .03), elevation of serum AST (p = .04), and presence of cirrhosis (p = .003) were significantly related to HDV seropositivity. ConclusionAlthough the study demonstrated that Libya has low to moderate prevalence of HDV (2,5%), it is important for policy makers and health care providers to continue the preventive measures for HDV spread, and HBV prevention program including utilization of HBV vaccine. Furthermore, it is imperative to screen chronic HBV patients for HDV for close observation for early diagnosis of subsequent development of liver cirrhosis. Moreover, further epidemiologic and genetic studies are needed to explore the trend for HDV infection in Libya.

KEJADIAN INFEKSI HEPATITIS B PADA BAYI DAN ANAK YANG DILAHIRKAN OLEH IBU DENGAN HBSAG POSITIF DI KABUPATEN MAGELANG JAWA TENGAH TAHUN 2014-2016

PurposeThis study aimed to examine the prevalence rate of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection in infants aged more than 9 months born to HbsAg-positive mothers as well as the distribution of the cases in Magelang Regency for the years 2014-2016.Method The study used a survey approach with total sampling. The sample of this research consisted of infants aged more than 9 months born to HBsAG-positive mothers diagnosed from laboratory examination (Rapid Diagnostic Test) based on the report from the Health Office of Magelang Regency for the years 2014-2016. The method of analysis used was descriptive. The HBsAg of the sample was examined using HBsAg Rapid Test Cassette and confirmed using Enzyme-Linked Fluorescence Assay (ELFA) methods at a laboratory.Results The prevalence rate of Hepatitis B virus infection in infants born to HBsAG-positive mothers in Magelang Regency was 0 percent (0/61). The history of the administration of HB0 vaccine <12 hours to respondents reached 100 percent and the history of the administration of HBIg <12 hours was 68.85 percent. The history of respondents’ caesarean delivery was 37.7 percent. The history of therapy of respondents was by giving curcuma and Java ginger (temulawak). The price of HBIg is relatively expensive Rp. 1,000,000 – Rp. 4,999,999.ConclusionThis study concludes that there was no vertical transmission with 100 percent history of the administration of HB0 vaccine.

Correlation between CD64 and PCT levels in cerebrospinal fluid and degree of hearing impairment sequelae in neonates with purulent meningitis.

This study investigated the possible correlation between the degree of hearing impairment caused by neonatal purulent meningitis and the levels of CD64 and PCT in cerebrospinal fluid of patients, and assessed the prognostic value of such levels. We recorded data from 156 cases of neonatal purulent meningitis retrospectively. All the patients received brainstem response audiometry, and cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected within the first day after admission through lumbar puncture. Flow cytometry was used to detect CD64 levels and enzyme-linked fluorescent assay was used to detect PCT levels. The children with hearing impairment were followed up for 1 year and brainstem response audiometry was performed again in them. We found that 43.59% of the children showed different degrees of hearing impairment, and 55% of them did not fully recover. The levels of PCT and CD64 in cerebrospinal fluid of children with hearing impairment were significantly higher than those of children with normal hearing (P<0.01). The levels of PCT and CD64 in mild, moderate and severe hearing impaired children increased gradually with higher degrees of impairment, and the differences between groups were significant (P<0.01). During the follow-up, it was found that the levels of PCT and CD64 in children correlated well with the degree of hearing recovery, and the differences between groups were significant (P<0.01). In our study, approximately 1/4 children with purulent meningitis showed long-term hearing impairment. Based on our analyses, the levels of CD64 and PCT in cerebrospinal fluid can be used to predict the degree and long-term prognosis of hearing impairment caused by purulent meningitis in children.

Lack of Association Between Cytomegalovirus Infection and Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy: A Case-Control Study in Durango, Mexico.

It is not clear whether infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) is associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnant women. Through a case-control study design, 146 women suffering from hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (cases) and 146 age-matched normotensive pregnant women (controls) were examined for the presence of anti-CMV IgG and IgM antibodies with enzyme-linked immunoassays. IgM seropositive samples were further assayed by enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA).Anti-CMV IgG antibodies were found in 138 (94.5%) controls and in 136 (93.2%) cases (odds ratio [OR] = 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30–2.05; P = 0.62). High (>18 IU/ml) levels of anti-CMV IgG antibodies were found in 37.7% of the 138 seropositive controls and in 34.6% of the 136 seropositive cases (OR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.53–1.43; P = 0.59). Anti-CMV IgM antibodies were found in 1 (0.7%) of the controls but in none of the cases using ELFA (P = 1.0). Seropositivity to CMV was not associated with a previous preeclampsia and was similar among cases regardless their mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and mean arterial blood pressure.No serological evidence of an association between CMV infection and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was found. Further research to elucidate the role of CMV in hypertensive disorders in pregnancy should be conducted.

Evaluation of the TGS TA system for the detection of anti-cytomegalovirus antibodies

&lt;em&gt;Background and aims:&lt;/em&gt; The aim of the present study was to evaluate the new Technogenetics TGS TA system for detecting anti-Cytomegalovirus IgG and IgM antibodies and IgG avidity. The TGS TA system was compared with our routinely used system, LIAISON XL, for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies. Only in positive IgM samples, TGS TA system was compared to an enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) test (VIDAS, BioMérieux, Marcy-l’Étoile, France) and with LIAISON XL system for the IgG avidity (if possible). &lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;Materials and methods:&lt;/em&gt; Three hundred sera samples from pregnant women were examined with the TGS TA system and divided in 3 groups according to IgG and IgM screening LIAISON XL tests: 102 were non-immune women (Group 1), 98 were pregnant with past infection (Group 2) and 100 were pregnant with positive or equivocal IgM (95 with positive IgG and 5 with negative IgG) (Group 3). &lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;Results:&lt;/em&gt; The overall concordance of the IgG results between LIAISON XL and TGS TA was 98.3%: 97.1% in Group 1, 100% in Group 2 and 98.0% in Group 3. The overall concordance of the IgM results between LIAISON XL and TGS TA was 92.1%: 100% in Group 1, 99.0% in Group 2 and 70.1% in Group 3. In Group 3, the concordance between the results of the IgG avidity with the LIAISON XL and TGS TA tests was 87.4%. Comparing the clinical diagnosis obtained with our protocol and that of the TGS TA system, the overall concordance was 94.3%: 97.1% in Group 1, 99.0% in Group 2 and 87.0% in Group 3. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;Conclusions&lt;/em&gt;: In conclusion, the overall clinical concordance between the LIAISON XL/VIDAS protocol and the TGS TA system is excellent. TGA TA system shows to be a valuable tool able to clearly identify non-specific subjects, those with a non-recent infection and classify as either recent or past infection half of the subjects with undetermined infection with our protocol.

Gonadal hormones level and morphometric traits in cow deliveres twin and single calves

The objectives of study were to investigate follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) level in four groups beef cow composed of Ongole Grade cow delivered twinning calves (OGT), Ongole Grade cow delivered single calf (OGS), Simmental crossbred cow delivered twinning calves (SCT) and Simmental crossbred cow delivered single calf (SCS). Morphometric traits included body weight, heart girth, body length, shoulder height, and abdominal circumference were taken from cows. Cows were reared by farmers in Grobogan and Kendal Regency, Central Java. Blood serums of cows were taken at estrus. FSH and LH concentration were measured with enzyme linked fluorescent assays (ELFA) technique.FSH and LH concentration were compared between OGT, OGS, SCT, and SCS. Result showed that there were no significant difference of FSH and LH concentration between OGT and OGS, between OGT and SCT, between OGT and SCS. There were no significant difference between OGS and SCT, and OGS and SCS. There were no significant difference between SCT and SCS. Low concentration of FSH and LH in all cows was related to suckle period, when prolactin concentration was inversely related to FSH and LH concentration.

SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII INFECTION AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG ASYMPTOMATIC PREGNANT FEMALES IN EGYPT

Protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is considered as one of the most critical risk factor for recurrent abortion in pregnant females and resulted in multi congenital malformation in fetus world-wide. The present study was carried out on 693 pregnant females from Alexandria, Beheira, Gharbia, Menoufia, Qalyoubia and Fayoum provinces,"The study determined the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant females during pregnancy trimesters and shed the lights on the main risk factors and possible contamination routes. Detection for the presence of Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were done by enzyme linked fluorescence assay (ELFA). It was found that the overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 30.16%.The seroprevalence increased with age. Significant relations were observed between Toxoplasma IgG antibodies and abortion history, maternity trimester and consumption of under-cooked meat. No significant differences were reported due to parity, occupation, abortion trimester, contact with cats and/or other animals and exposure to soil.